CHAPTER 23: THE TRUTH ABOUT MADELINE

"S-Slaves?!" Hermione choked on her oatmeal. "I don't believe it! How? Why?"

Ruby appeared casual. She shrugged and took a sip of orange juice. "Can't believe you guys didn't know that. See, about fifteen years ago, when You-Know-Who was at the apex of his power, the fairies sold their souls to him. He'd threatened to kill them all, see. Thought they were working for his enemies. But, really, they had stayed neutral. They were scared. Weren't bad, then. So instead of dying, they swore that they and all of their posterity would be slaves of the Dark Arts."

"But, why would Dumbledore let Madeline in if he knew they were working for Voldemort?" Harry asked.

"Well, you know what Hagrid's always saying," Ron explained, "About Dumbledore giving everyone second chances and everything, you know?"

Hermione nodded vaguely. "So… she's evil?"

Ruby's silent friend beside her shook with laughter. "Lots of people are evil…" she said thickly, "You've just got a lot to learn. Seems like all you British folks think it's all fun and games at Hogwart's… well, at Micksmeyer, you're going to learn that not all wizards are good."

Harry suddenly had a flashback to his first year at Hogwart's. "Not all wizards are good," Hagrid had said. Harry now knew how true this was.

Harry was lost in thought when he was tapped on the shoulder. A small girl with freckles and long braids stood beside him. "Mind givin' me a picture, Mr. Potter?" the girl asked.

"Erm - no. Of course not." Harry answered. The girl handed her camera to another girl her size, who took the picture while Harry posed with the braided girl. The camera spat the picture out. Harry signed the photo, then returned to his friends. He noticed that Ron's ears were pink; Hermione was having her picture taken with an older boy. Ruby sneered disapprovingly. Harry knew it would be difficult to become her friend.

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After breakfast, Hermione pulled Harry and Ron over and lowered her voice. "All right, guess what, then."

Ron looked at Harry, confused.

"What?" Harry asked.

Hermione pulled a vial out of her pocket. "I got this from Dumbledore before we left. It's Veritaserum."

Harry racked his brain to remember what Veritaserum was. Then it occurred to him: Truth Potion.

"Truth Potion." Hermione whispered. "I suppose Dumbledore thought we might need it. We'll just need to get her alone, give her a bit of juice with this in it, and we're home free. She'll tell us all we want to know."

"Brill, Hermione! Blooming brill!" Harry exclaimed.

"Hold on. It's not that easy." Hermione insisted. "We've still got to get her into the commons… alone."

Later that evening, Hermione approached Ruby by herself.

"Erm-Hello, Ruby. We were just wondering if… erm, you'd like to meet us in the commons, after everyone's gone to sleep."

"Why after everyone's gone to sleep?" Ruby asked suspiciously.

"Well, erm, we need to talk with you about something important."

Ruby glanced over at Harry and Ron, who were attempting to look casual, leaning against a wall.

"Fine. I'll see you back here at eleven-thirty. But don't bring that Ron boy. He gives me the heebie-jeebies." She turned at walked in the other direction. Harry saw Ron slump slightly beside him.

"She doesn't like me!" He groaned.

"Don't worry," Hermione told him, walking back towards the boys. "We've got the Invisibility Cloak and the Glumeba ring. You'll be there without being there."

Ron nodded.

That night, at eleven fifteen, Ron suited up in his cloak and ring.

"Follow us." Harry whispered to the blank space where Ron was.

Hermione led the way, clutching a lantern, to the commons. Harry carried three mugs of pumpkin juice. He was careful to keep an eye on the one with the Veritaserum in it. At last, the three Hogwart's students reached the commons.

Ruby sat in an armchair with a thin book.

"Oh, good, you're here. And you didn't bring that horrible Ron kid."

Harry couldn't hear or see Ron, but he was sure vulgar words and gestures were flying at Ruby.

"Er-Ruby, we brought you some pumpkin juice. We went to see the house-elves to get some, and they recognized us, so they asked if we had a friend who wanted some and we said, 'oh, our friend Ruby is waiting upstairs.'"

Hermione was always an expert at blarneying people.

Ruby chuckled and took the mug that Harry offered her. Harry made sure he gave Ruby the one with the Truth Potion.

"Thanks." said Ruby, taking a gulp of the pumpkin juice. "So what did you guys need to talk to me about?"

Hermione took a small sip of juice, to take up a bit of time. "Oh, we just wanted to know a little more about the fairies."

"There's not really anything else." Ruby took several more large guzzles of juice. "This is really good juice. House-elves must favor heroes."

Harry swallowed his thick pumpkin juice and stared at the fire. He knew that any second now, the potion would set in…

With a loud clatter, Ruby dropped her empty pewter mug. Her head fell backwards and her eyes rolled back into her head.

"Yes!" Hermione exclaimed. "All right… Ruby… who are your parents?"

Ruby's voice sounded misty and distant. "Oliver and Malicia Redenblue."

"What do they do for a living?" Harry asked.

"They worked for You-Know-Who… spies… spied on Dumbledore."

Hermione and Harry exchanged a dark look. Hermione continued the inquisition.

"Who is your enemy?"

"Potter."

Harry reared in shock. "Where are your parents?" he asked.

"Welsnurth."

"Why are they in Welsnurth?"

"Teaching. Under aliases."

Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"What are their aliases?"

"Luno and Gradiccia di Formazaggio."

"That sounds Italian." Hermione mumbled to Harry. "They are dark wizards?"

"Don't know what goes on. Haven't seen them since my first year. Might be dead. Don't know."

"Is there a Road to Nowhere at Micksmeyer?" Harry asked quickly, knowing that the potion would wear off soon.

"Yes."

"Where?!"

"I don't know. Never been there. But it's here."

"Where?!" Hermione demanded again, in vain.

"I… don't… know! I just know it's here. I know there's someone in there… been there for years. A ghost."

"What's the ghost's name?" Harry said.

"Chessa Garney."

Hermione gaped. Garney?!

"How did she die?"

"Got left in there."

"Where did she live?"

"Legend has it… she was from a town called Godric's Hollow in England. Her mom sent her to America for education. Her sister Emma stayed in England. When her parents got killed, Chessa shut herself up in the Road to Nowhere and has been there since. Now… her sister… owl… owl… is going to…"

"Is going to what?!" Hermione screeched.

"Is going to… is… going… to… kill…"

"Kill who?!" Hermione screamed.

"Kill… going to kill…" Ruby yawned and sat back up. "Wow, I'm tired." her voice was back to normal. "I'm going to bed."

And Ruby got up and left the commons.